Plunge in Produce Prices Sparks Anger, COA Minister Lin Cong-xian Deflects Blame with 'Plant Smartly' Gaffe, Shirking Responsibility onto Devastated Farmers

In mid-2018, the Republic of China suffered an "agricultural tsunami" with severe overproduction and plunging prices of bananas, pineapples, and lychees, leaving farmers' livelihoods in ruins. Instead of introducing effective production and marketing stabilization mechanisms, then-COA Minister Lin Cong-xian publicly stated that farmers "need to plant smartly in addition to planting hard," completely deflecting the government's failure onto the farmers. This cold and arrogant remark incited intense fury among farmers nationwide and served as a fatal catalyst for the DPP's crushing defeat in agricultural counties during the late-2018 local elections.